What is coworking in simple words, and how to build a business on it?

The concept of coworking, like the word itself, has entered our life not so long ago, but today it is already, as they say, "by ear." Many have heard this word, but not everyone delved into the essence of what it means, let's figure it out.

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Literally, coworking is a combination of English terms “together”, “jointly” and “work”. Thus, this could simply be called joint work. But there are several more nuances.

Covorking: What is it in simple words?

The first Russian coworking center began work more than 10 years ago in the city of Chelyabinsk. Today there are about 300 of them, most of all coworking centers are operating in the capital.

The easiest way is to define it as a certain space, room, in which you can do something, and it can be like A one -time lesson, and a relatively frequent or even permanent, actually workplace outside the office.
Often those who are gathering here not busy with the full work day in offices or in production, To produce some kind of joint product, and, doing it in a creative, friendly atmosphere, communicating and penetrating a single goal. Very often, such work is jointly performed by people who are not united by a similar profession, but are connected by a common goal.
If this is a creative direction, then “converge” to carry out one project in this space can Designers with programmers, journalists with entrepreneurs, marketers with translators.

Often it is in coworking centers that work freelancers, and also small companies or organizations are located here that do not have enough financial opportunities to pay for the office rental. You can rent such a space for any period: someone needs several days, others-a year or two.
Such a coworking center is usually divided into zones. They can be autonomous or common, but regardless of this, each has Internet access And all the office equipment necessary for work. Often the owner of the room also provides the negotiation zone or business meetings, space for trainings, as well as everything for the necessary relaxation. The ability to have a bite (these can be machines that give out snacks and drinks or a full -fledged kitchen corner where you can prepare a light snack), premises for relaxation, and a library is often provided for use of customers.

What are the types of coworking?

If we talk about the general profile, then covorking centers can be divided into open - for everyone and with a specific specialization: creative, artistic, business, sewing.
Another parameter depends on the "human factor." On it, coworking centers can open their doors only for those who are a representative one or another nationality, There may be exclusively female coworking and the same purely male. In addition, coworking can be a narrowly specialized direction.
On the device of the office of coworking can be simple, containing only the minimum necessary set of furniture and appliances.

More complex structures are covorking offices of production purposes, where a very specific product is produced. This also includes the craft direction of coworking - sewing Or, for example, carpentry The case where the room is equipped with everything necessary for such production by equipment.

Covorkings should also be called, designed for creative personalities who can conduct master classes, sharing their skills, giving lessons-in a word, creating themselves and share their skill with others.
Often organize Children's coworking, Where the guys creates for pleasure. And also, speaking of creative and non -standard approaches, we can note such a rather popular form of coworking as anticafe.
In the warm season, street covorking centers, where all of the above is carried out in the open air.

Thematic areas for coworking

For example, take several coworking in various cities working in different directions:

Round-the-clock business carrving, As the name implies, designed for business people, and therefore financially successful. Accordingly, the rent here is quite expensive - from 1 thousand rubles. per day for the workplace, And if we are talking about renting an office, then the cost can reach 125 thousand rubles. per month. Even higher than the board (150-180 thousand rubles), if not only work is supposed, but also accommodation in the office. The customer services here are the ability to work with the secretary, an automated business system, the implementation department works.

"Reform" -This is the name of the Time Club, in terms of its functions similar to anticafe. It provides not only jobs, but also gaming zones, the ability to watch a movie, audience for lectures or master classes and even concerts. Here, payment is made in a per municipality, in particular, the average price of an hour of work in coworking (depending on what time of day you are here and in which zone) - order 150 rub.
Coworking intended for the work of motherson maternity leave. Its peculiarity in the presence of game rooms for babies, where they can have fun while mom works. Here is a regular “office” work schedule, with ordinary days off on Saturdays and Sundays. Moms pay order for the working day 300 rub. Covorking works by preliminary record.

Creative coworking, A kind of workshop in which representatives of decorative and applied art work, moreover, both beginners and professionals. This is all the more convenient and useful that beginners can always adopt experience, “spy” certain professional secrets, chat. Here, customer services are provided with workshops equipped with all the necessary equipment from machine tools to tools. In addition, the conduct of master classes, courses on a particular topic is organized. Covorking has been working from noon to 10 pm, the work here will cost the amount of order for a month 5 thousand rubles.
Coworking academia, created for training. Teachers work here, studios are located and conduct classes of various language schools. The equipment is thought out, which allows you to conduct full -fledged classes and consultations: molberts, liquid crystalline screens, there is a place to store materials and things here. The price of an hour is here - 150 rubles. And to regular customers are discounts.
Carpentry coworking, In fact, the workshop equipped with everything necessary for the carpentry. There is not only all the tools that may be needed in work, but also the variety of machines, work clothes and protective devices, even material for work is often provided.

Sewing coworking It is an almost small sewing factory, with cutting tables, professional sewing machines. Customer services are also provided with all the necessary tools and materials, as well as mannequins.
Techno-collection It has been created recently and not yet very widespread, but the first experience has already shown the demand for such coworking to create conditions for representatives of professions such as scientists or engineers.
Another relative a new type of coworking is rural. It is intended for those who want to take a break from the city. As an option, this is a settlement in the village for several families, which is an actually small town with developed infrastructure: sports grounds, kindergarten, catering company and, of course, a working area, so that it does not have to get to work in the city. The essence of such a settlement is slow and good ecology.

Covorking: Advantages of centers

First of all, it is independence From the "command work" (although in some cases it is very productive) and the instructions of higher chiefs.
In coworking centers you can always find a like -minded person With whom it is pleasant to discuss your work, ask to share experience, opinion. When this is the opinion of a completely stranger who has nothing to do with you business relations, any advice will be more objective.
Here you can rent a room (which is cheaper than office centers) for a certain time, equip a peculiar own workplace, Personal account, conduct a training or seminar, organize a master class.
The presence of a kitchen or food machines provide an opportunity to eat, practically without looking up from work, as if in a home environment.
Opportunity reduce rental costs Due to the clearly defined number of jobs, not the total area.
Opportunity to determine the required lease term of the premises yourself, up to the hourly.
Fully equipped with all the workplace necessary for work and lack of need to pay individual bills for using the Internet, electricity, water.
Opportunity negotiating in a specially designed room.
Having rented a workplace or premises for a certain period, you can not worry that it will be terminated.

Covorking: Cons of centers

You have to use available by office equipment, and you cannot choose a photocopier model or, for example, a camera.
You still have to get to the coworking center, as well as to ordinary work, and therefore, spending time and money.
Present at the coworking center People can prevent you from concentrating.
If there are no storage rooms, then you have to fear for the safety of personal things.
And finally, in the coworking center can simply be noisy, if a master class or lesson is held nearby. A similar noise can distract from work.

How to make money at coworking?

With all its visible democracy and "lightness", coworking is a perfectly thought -out business, which provides for profit from several areas at once.
For example, the most obvious source is accrual and charging payment for the rented area from those who use the premises. In addition, rental can be accrued not only for the production room in which the final product is made, but also for the halls provided for mass events.

The coworking center is often held training, training is organized - All this can also become a source of income, not to mention paid nutrition for both participants in such events and for coworking customers themselves.
And finally, coworking center, providing workplaces for large companies can receive income due to interest that they will expel from each event.
In addition, depending on specialization, coworking can provide various additional services, which is also a source of income.

Organization of coworking center: important aspects

When choosing a room for organizing a coworking center, it is necessary to devote attention, as this is the first impression of potential customers from your services. Everything is important: the facade of the premises, the interior decoration of the working zones, the presence of electricity and water supply with the sewer is necessarily.
Among other conditions that are binding on the successful operation of the center - high-quality and serviceable equipment, a full set of all the necessary equipment, up to stationery buttons-scrains and cutlery. It is already an unnecessary to talk about the presence of high -speed and uninterrupted Internet - this condition today is already a necessity.

Very important the place where the coworking office is located. It is one thing - the central part of the settlement, where it is relatively close and convenient to get to almost everyone where an extensive infrastructure and transport interchanges are nearby. And quite another-the sleeping area, the outskirts, where even if you want to work under the appropriate conditions, it is not so easy to get to the main part of the population.
The coworking office itself must be conveniently and competently planned. If this is really an office intended for business, and not, say, creative events, there should be provided here rooms for negotiations, many telephone lines, separate rooms for closed meetings. In addition, business people need to provide a parking service.

How is the price of coworking formed?

When forming the price, it is taken into account Many factors. This is primarily the location region, a specific place where the office or center is located, the presence of all the equipment necessary for the operation.
Agreeing with a client on renting a coworking center, the owner of the premises must take into account the period for which the premises is rented. In general, the “wholesale is cheaper” rule is applicable here. The longer the lease term, the less the cost of each individual day.

It also matters which place is provided to the visitor for work. Or it fixed (in fact, the same lease), or “floating”, i.e. Anyone The place that will be free at the moment necessary to the visitor.
And the most expensive is the payment of the rental of the premises for individual, “private” events: business negotiations, personal meetings, which are held in separate offices.

Covorking as a business

Our days are one of the most successful for the development of coworking, since there has not yet been saturated with a market of this kind of services, so you can find your exclusive niche. On the other hand, the concept of coworking is no longer completely new, and people already understand what kind of services we are talking about, they are guided by the situation, and more and more often they themselves enter the market in search of such services.

Step 1. Analyze the services market. You should understand whether you are the first in this direction in your region, or you already have potential competitors (the same anticafe, for example). Learn also the cost of renting office space, and most importantly - there is a demand for them, because, perhaps, in your city there are already a lot of unclaimed square meters that people are in no hurry to occupy.
Try using social networks and various forums to find out whether a similar service is in demand precisely in your region, what kind of specialization your coworking could be. If your city is by no means a millionaire, and the coworking center is already successfully working in it, then it is unlikely to make sense to open the second, except that creating the best conditions in it at lower prices.
Step 2.You came to the conclusion that covorking in your region will become in demand and decided to open a similar business? To work without violating the rules, you should start with the official registration of individual entrepreneurship. Choose the code of activity according to the classifier and pay for the bank a fee - after that all the necessary documents are drawn up.
Step 3. The choice of a suitable room, which would meet the main criteria: a successful location, optimal area, convenience in terms of transport. As a rule, such a place is the central part of any settlement. Do not forget that your address should be issued legally, this is necessary for you for legal activities and the client. In addition, the windows are important - the more they are, the better the lighting, and this is an important factor in success.

Step 4. Planning of the premises and equipment equipment Also dependent on where you intend to place the working rooms, and where - utility (bathrooms, wardrobe, kitchen). First of all, when planning, the aspect of comfort for visitors should be taken into account, this applies not only to the premises themselves, but also by directly jobs, placement of equipment, furniture, and placement of sockets. It is better to purchase chairs with adjustable height, and office equipment is high -quality and multifunctional. Little things such as stationery should also be present in sufficient quantities.
Step 5. Having planned and preparing everything you need, proceed to the repair of the premises - current or capital, depending on its condition. When registering, think about the design to be original and at the same time create a working atmosphere without distracting from work.
Step 6. Take care of the advertising campaign Using its enterprise, using all the possibilities for this, including contextual advertising up to social networks.
Step 7. Hire the staff, Paying special attention to the qualifications of your future workers, their sociability.

How much can you earn in coworking?

If we talk about the rent, then it depends on many factors. It affects the price and location, and what kind of rental is expected, how many jobs are rented and which area is used. It is taken into account how technically the coworking is equipped, as well as the provision of additional services, for example, parking, fitness rooms, lunch delivery or the availability of storage chambers.

In general, in the Russian Federation, the difference in prices is small, no more than 10%. The most expensive rent, of course, in Moscow and St. Petersburg. It is also important that it is rented: either it is a “floating” workplace (then the price is about 200 rubles), or permanent (in this case, the cost within 50 rubles). A day of rental, the premises can bring 800 rubles to the owner, and a month - up to 17 thousand rubles.
If you correctly decide on the format of your coworking center and provide services for which there is a demand in your region, then you will play in your hand as a large area of \u200b\u200bthe room, where you can provide a wide range of services. The more people you can provide a maximum of demanded services, the more you have the opportunity to become profitability.
If at the same time you will “hold your nose in the wind” and navigate in what additional services your customers need, the higher the profit will be. Practice shows that correct planning Allows you to recoup costs in the first year after the start of the functioning of the coworking center.

How to open a coworking center: business plan

On average at full workload the income of the coworking center per month reaches 90 thousand rubles. Which is possible after almost six months of work. Net profit per year can draw up order 800 thousand rubles.

To get started, you will have to spend money in the amount of over 1 million rubles. It includes:

rent of the premises (100-110 thousand rubles)
repair (300 thousand rubles)
acquisition of the necessary equipment and the situation (450 thousand rubles)
advertising campaign (within 75 thousand rubles)
business registration (15 thousand rubles)
realist capital is approximately 70 thousand rubles.

Now let's consider the costs that will have to be carried monthly:

rent and advertising, to which payments for utilities and the use of the Internet are added (15 thousand rubles).
for salaries to employees and taxes - about 110 thousand rubles. All this will be the initial costs of starting a business.

According to those who are successfully engaged in coworking business, its profitability reaches 16% almost a year later, and the project pays off for a half to two years.

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